Improvement in window-shutters



c. B. HOPKINS & J. A. JOHNSTON.

WINDOW-SHUTTERS.

No. 188,908. Patented March 27,1877.

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UNITED STA S PATENT OFFICE CHARLES B. HOPKINS ANDIJAMES A. JOHNSTON, OFTOPEKA, KANSAS.

IMPROVEMENT IN WlNDOW-SHUTTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 188,908, dated March27, 1877; application filed March 13, 1877.

'blind is closed, in a peculiar manner of arranging and operating theslats, and in a pcculiar manner of constructing the slats of sheetmetal, as hereinafter described.

Figure 1 represents a vertical section of my blind with the slats open;Fig. 2, a similar view with the slats closed; Fig. 3, a crosssection ofone of the metal slats with its operating-link attached; Fig. 4, atransverse section of the blind.

A represents the frame of the blind, constructed as shown, with a flangeor shoulder, at, around its interior, to fit over the ends of all theslats, and the edges also of the top and bottom slats, to assist inexcluding the light. B B represent-the'parallel slats, having journalsor trunnions formed on their ends at the inner or rear edge, instead ofin the middle,as usual,and having said journals mounted in the frameclose to the flange a, so that when the slats are turned down they shutclosely against the flange, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, therebypreventing the entrance of light past the ends of the slats, or past theupper and lower edges of the top and bottom slats.

Each slat has its free edge recessed and shaped to fit snugly over theback edge of the next slat, as shown at 0, Figs. 1 and 2, so that whenthe slats "are closed they fit to.- gether and lap over each other insuch manner as to prevent the entrance of light between them. 0 0represent a series of links,

pivoted one to each of the slats, andall piv-r oted at their opposite.ends to a sliding vertical bar, D, the movement of which serves to openor close all'the slats simultaneously.

The bar D is mounted at its upper end in a staple, d, and at its lowerend in astaple,

0, both attached to the frame A. The lower staple e is made of suchlength as to permit the bar to play or move therein to and from theframe, and the lower end of the bar provided with a rack-plate, E, whichengages with the staple, to hold the bar from moving endwise, andthereby secure the slats of the blind in position.

A spring, F, is mounted in the frame under the end of the bar D, for thepurpose of pushing the same outward, and causing the plate E to engagewith the staple.

In order to adjust the slats, it is only nec essary to push the end ofthe bar D toward the frame, and then move it endwise, the spring causingit to lock automatically when released.

When the slats are closed, their overlapping edges and the overlappingflange on the frame prevent the entrance of a single ray of light, andalso prevent the introduction by burglars or others of instruments forunlocking the blind.

The bar and rack, arranged as shown, permit the ready adjustment of theslats in any position desired, prevent them from working out ofposition, and prevent the rattling and jarring common to blinds of theordinary construction.

The slats may be made of wood, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or of sheetmetal, as shown in Fig. 3, the metal slat consisting simply of a plateof proper size, having one edge curled into a tubular form, to receive awire or other journal, and the other edge curved and adapted to fit overthe rear edge of the adjacent slat.

When the metal slat is used the links may be made of wire, with theirends curled and inserted through the same; or the slat may have itsinner face provided with an ear or eye to receive the link.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is- 1. In combinationwith the frame A, having the continuous internal flange or shoulder a,the overlapping slats B, provided with the recessed lower edges 0, andpivoted at their upper edges to the frame in front of the flange, asshown, whereby the ends of the slats are permitted to lap their fullwidth against the flange, in order to wholly exclude the light.

2. In combination with the slats B, pivoted at one edge, as shown, thelinks 0 and sliding bar D.

3. The combination of the frame A, pivoted slats B, links 0, sliding barD, mounted in guides d e, and provided with the notched plate E, andspring F, seated under the bar,

as shown.

CHARLES B. HOPKINS. JAMES A. JOHNSTON. Witnesses:

CHARLES B. SMITH, ELIAS SHULL.

